My cousin was arrested for a DUI in Ohio a few days ago but we live in Washington. How will this affect his drivers license in WA?

Daniel

Vancouver, WA

Both Washington State and Ohio are members of the Drivers License Compact (DLC) so if you are convicted of the driving under the influence you received in Ohio then their courts will notify the Washington Department of Licensing (DOL) about this driving under the influence conviction.

The report back to the driver’s home state will clearly describe the infraction, specifying the section of the statute, ordinance or code violated; indicate whether a plea of guilty or not guilty was entered ; identify what action was taken; or the conviction was a result of the forfeiture of a security.

The Washington DOL site states that, they keep a record of moving infractions, convictions for automobile violations and notices for failure to respond or appear to traffic citation on every motorist in the state. This information that goes on your driving history is received by clerk of the courts and licensing agencies so it would seem that the out of state information reported to the DOL would also be put on your driving record in Vancouver, Washington.

The state of WA would take actions against you just as if you received the driving under the influence charge in state instead of out of state. In WA your license may be suspended from ninety days up to four years, based on prior violations and your blood alcohol level for DUI offenses. The Washington DOL could inform your friend more about what could happen if he is convicted of the Ohio driving under the influence.

My drivers license was suspended because of the DUI and my parents would like to add me to their car insurance policy in Everett, Washington. Will the insurance company be able to know about the DUI charge?

John

Everett, WA

I would recommend that you allow the car insurance carrier and your parents know that your driver’s license is suspended because of the driving under the influence charge. You should not drive a car or be insured on their auto insurance policy in Everett, Washington with a revoked or suspended license. You could place your parents or their auto insurance policy at risk for non-disclosure.

The insurance carrier can pull up your motor vehicle record when they try to add you to the auto insurance policy. They can disclose the information that they cannot add you because of your your drivers license is suspended because of DUI. They can give the inquirer for the information to use in order to contact the reporting agency.

Hey. I have a very simple question for you. My boyfriend was convicted with DUI in Washington. His license was suspended and he badly needs to get a hardship license. How can he obtain one?

Leizl

Bellevue, WA

I have a very simple answer since you have a very simple question. If his license was suspended in the State of Washington, there are several steps to take to obtain hardship license. He needs to sign up online for a 12-hour traffic school (ADI) class. Then he would have to go to the Clerk of Court and get a “30-day search” of his driving record. If he has received the Letter of Enrollment from the Traffic School and a letter from the Clerk, he can go to the DMV and apply for a hardship license with a Hearing Officer. After that, he needs to complete the 12-hour online course. If he is a ‘habitual offender’ as indicated in the DMV Letter of Enrollment, he must complete the course before he can apply for the hardship license.

Hope I was able to give you the information you need on obtaining your boyfriend’s Washington hardship license. Good luck.